Two days before the Ministry of Health and the autonomous communities meet to evaluate what to do with Primary Care, "the backbone of the health system", in the words of the minister, Mónica Garcia, Health publishes citizens' opinions on this level of care. And they assure that they have serious problems accessing their health center. Almost 70% of them could not get an appointment the next day they requested it in 2023, with the average number of waiting days being more than 9 days (8.8 in 2022). This translates into an increase in emergencies in Primary Care, which received approximately 44.5% of the demand for urgent care.
Despite this, Primary Care continues to be a service highly valued by patients. 81.4% of people who have used Primary Care services say they are satisfied with the care received, increasing slightly compared to 2022 (79.7%).
The highest rated aspects are the trust and security that nursing professionals deserve (8 points) and medicine (7.8 points), followed by the knowledge and monitoring of their health problems and the information received (around 7.8 points). 5 points in both). The time spent by the doctor is valued at 6.8 points.
This is indicated by the 2023 Health Barometer, prepared by the CIS and which shows that the satisfaction of the general population with the public health system is 6.27 points, an assessment that seems to stabilize after its decrease in 2022 (6.26) compared to to the pre-pandemic situation in 2019 (6.74).
The best-rated services are the emergencies of 112 and 061, as well as admissions and assistance in public hospitals.
56.7% of the population believes that the health system of our country, in general, works quite well or that it works well, although some changes are necessary. After the marked decrease in this perception between 2019 (71.4%) and 2022 (57.1%), a certain stabilization is now observed in this indicator.
People who believe that the health system works poorly and needs profound changes remains equally stable, with 14.3% in 2023, compared to 14.5% in 2022.
The problem that citizens most frequently point out is the waiting lists to access a specialist doctor, lasting more than 3 months for almost 40% of patients who are referred from Primary Care.
Faced with this situation, many citizens opt for private insurance, although they prefer public healthcare in general. 21.5% of the people interviewed report having private medical insurance contracted individually and 9.4% contracted by their company. 75.5% of people who declare that they have individually contracted private insurance state that the “speed with which they serve you” is the main reason for taking out that insurance.
The Health Barometer is also interested in how citizens feel that the situation in Primary Care centers is affecting them and is reflected in public opinion. 44% report that it is affecting them, compared to 53% who report that it is not affecting them at all or almost nothing.
What measures do patients believe should be adopted in Primary Care? Citizens are clear that they should keep the same family doctor. Also increase the workforce of health personnel and dedicate more financial resources. Other measures, increase consultation time and improve facilities and technological means.
